The weather, as if in celebration, was exceptionally beautiful that day.

The breeze carried a gentle warmth and the world was in full bloom.

It was as if the whole of creation was offering its blessings.

“The bridegroom has arrived!”

Having completed his ceremonial ride through Doha, San-gyeong had now arrived at the detached quarters.

Woo-hye, her head covered with a red cloth, took Hyang-eum’s hand and slowly stepped out.

“Oooh!”

A gasp of awe spread through the crowd as the bride – radiant as a flower of the imperial palace – gracefully emerged.

“I’ll take her from here.”

San-gyeong said as he approached.

Hyang-eum handed Woo-hye to him and stepped back.

Now the bride and groom would walk together to the main house where the wedding ceremony would take place.

The procession symbolised their shared commitment to face future hardships together and to never let go of the bond between them.

As they walked towards the main hall, Woo-hye spoke softly to San-gyeong beside her.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“Not really.”

“Really? You must have been quite busy last night. That’s a relief.”

San-gyeong understood immediately – she was referring to what he had done to Seok Cheol-won.

She could have written it off as a coincidence, but she had clearly concluded that it was San-gyeong’s doing.

She was not a woman to be underestimated.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

In any case, he feigned ignorance.

Sometimes, if a person denies something long enough, it ceases to be true in the eyes of others.

“The bride and groom have arrived!”

As the two came to a halt and faced forward, the official ceremony began.

“Bow before heaven and earth!”

They turned and bowed to the guests.

Among them were Gayu and Mokcheon, who had been invited in advance.

“Bow to your ancestors and parents!”

They turned around and bowed.

“Bride and groom, bow to each other!”

As the bride and groom made their final bow to each other, Gayu muttered with a puzzled expression.

“The wedding clothes and jewellery look much too luxurious…”

The owner of a fabric shop – who had been invited to the ceremony – replied,

“Well, the groom is the son of the head of the merchant guild, isn’t he? They say that even the things lying around his house are all rare treasures of gold and silver.”

“I mean… that’s true.”

Gayu admitted, now wearing the look of someone who finally understood why Woo-hye had asked for Cheong-un to be investigated again.

She continued to watch as the couple shared the hap-hwan-ju – the ceremonial wedding wine.

Finally, with the announcement that they were now officially husband and wife, the banquet began in earnest.

As people were drawn to the wine and food, the atmosphere grew livelier, and Woo-hye finally let out a long sigh as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

San-gyeong, noticing her shoulders rising and falling even though he could not see her expression under the veil, stepped closer and asked.

“Were you nervous?”

“A little. I’m just glad everything went so well.”

Her wedding dress was made with an abundance of fabric, making it long and voluminous. Woo-hye had to be careful not to trip over it the whole time.

Now that the newlyweds were standing in the most visible place and exchanging words, people began to approach them with their cups raised.

“Congratulations to you both! May you live together in harmony for a hundred years!”

“Allow me to offer you a drink!”

Though his face remained expressionless, San-gyeong replied politely and with proper etiquette.

“Thank you all for coming. I’ll accept the drinks.”

Now it was time for him to go around the hall, greeting the guests and accepting drinks from each of them.

But first he wanted to send Woo-hye to the bridal chamber. He motioned to Hyang-eum and the maids who were waiting nearby.

“All of you, escort the young lady…”

He paused for a moment, then corrected himself.

“…bride to her room. And if you’re tired, my lady, you may rest.”

Startled by the sudden change in formality, Woo-hye asked with a puzzled look.

“Why did you suddenly change your tone?”

San-gyeong hadn’t spoken informally because of his status or rudeness.

It had merely been an imitation of how Cheong-un would have behaved.

It didn’t bother her that he spoke informally.

Whether he did or not didn’t really matter to her. In fact, the tone he’d been using all along felt more natural.

Still, it bothered San-gyeong that Woo-hye might appear to others as a woman who wasn’t respected.

Like a newlywed whispering sweet nothings, he leaned close to her ear and said.

“Because people are watching.”

Woo-hye found this amusing, so she teased him with a playful question.

“And if no one is watching?”

“You can guess.”

‘Guess? She couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.’

‘Isn’t that just his way of saying he’ll behave as usual?’

Feeling mischievous, Woo-hye looked up at San-gyeong, who had just started to walk away, and said shyly.

“Yes, my husband. Come to me quickly, okay?”

“What on earth…”

The crowd around them, who had been watching the couple with amused curiosity, suddenly burst into laughter and cheers.

“Oho! They’re dripping with sweetness!”

“Well, of course a couple should be affectionate!”

“Ha! Reminds me of my own honeymoon days!”

San-gyeong frowned in disbelief.

How could a woman say such a thing without the slightest hint of shame?

“Hurry up and answer, my lord!”

Iho, grinning nearby, nudged him in encouragement, and others joined in.

“Answer like a real man!”

“That’s right!”

San-gyeong didn’t like this kind of rowdy atmosphere, but rather than ruin the mood, he gave a measured but appropriate reply.

“I’ll be early, my lady.”

It was an answer that met everyone’s expectations – but it was also sincere.

After all, due to the limited time he could wear the leather mask, he could not stay late at the banquet.

“There you go!”

“Ha! The groom must be full of energy tonight!”

In any case, his bold response won the favour of the crowd.

Everyone was laughing and chatting merrily, celebrating the new couple’s union, when suddenly a servant unknown to Yeonmowon’s household strode in confidently and announced.

“His Highness the Sixth Prince has arrived in person. The host must come out immediately and receive him with proper respect!”

The guests muttered.

“Did I hear that right? Why would His Highness come here?”

But Woo-hye and San-gyeong showed no surprise at all – it was simply the arrival of someone they had been expecting.

And they quickly noticed that the other one wasn’t surprised either.

‘So he knew that the sixth prince was coming.’

Woo-hye held out her hand and asked politely.

“Looks like we should go out together. Will you accompany me, husband?”

San-gyeong took her hand.

Just as Woo-hye was about to step forward, her hand was suddenly lifted.

San-gyeong swung her arm around his neck, then slid one arm behind her back and the other under her knees, lifting her up in one swift motion.

Her red robes fluttered like the fins of a goldfish swimming in a pond.

“All you had to do was hold my hand.”

“You said you were afraid.”

“Did I? When did I ever say…”

“Were you nervous?”

“A bit. I’m just glad everything went smoothly.”

‘So he knew exactly why I was nervous.’

Woo-hye thought, startled.

“I didn’t say I was scared.”

San-gyeong probably meant the wedding itself when he asked her if she was nervous.

But from her answer, he seemed to understand the real reason for her tension.

‘Is he just that observant?’
Woo-hye relaxed in his arms.

Woo-hye was carried comfortably to the front gate. On the way she caught the soft scent of sweet osmanthus.

“You always smell good, my husband.”

“This is not the time for such comments.”

He couldn’t see her face under the red veil, but he sensed she was smiling.

‘How cheeky.’

There was something flirtatious about her honesty. Whether she realised it or not, there was a natural charm to her every gesture.

It was as if she was acting in a way that made her worthy of affection – because deep down, she wanted to be loved.

Even now she was relaxed in his arms, her cheek resting on his shoulder, her arms wrapped around his neck, her body nestled close.

Smells good, she had said. But all San-gyeong could smell was the glue from his mask.

The truly pleasant smell came from Woo-hye.

She rarely ate meat and consumed medicinal herbs every day, giving her skin a subtle grassy aroma.

With her dewy appearance and delicate herbal scent, Woo-hye was refreshingly beautiful.

But every now and then, when her darker side came out, she gave off an eerie and intense aura.

San-gyeong sighed softly as he watched the ornate carriage approach from behind the wide open gate.

The Sixth Prince did not know San-gyeong. They had never met face to face.

But San-gyeong knew a great deal about the lord:

A man consumed by inferiority and vanity.

He lacked patience and responsibility, but had an overwhelming desire to win and be accepted.

That’s why he never dared to seek power – he knew he couldn’t win.

Instead, he channeled his ambitions into literature and the arts, where his good taste earned him some respect.

Still, Woo-hye, with her strong sense of self, had a way of provoking his competitive spirit and fragile pride – even if she didn’t mean to.

‘Maybe I shouldn’t have circulated her portrait so much.’

San-gyeong felt a pang of regret for fanning the flames of Woo-hye’s fame, which was originally meant to curb the culture of extravagance.

When they finally reached the gate, he gently set Woo-hye down, being careful not to trip over her robes.

And just then – perhaps having heard of her arrival – the magnificent carriage came to a halt and the Sixth Prince, dressed as extravagantly as the bridegroom himself, stepped out.

“His Highness, the Sixth Prince, approaches!”